‘Italy has to stay united and beat the crisis’

 

Recently, the coronavirus outbreak, originated in Wuhan, has reached the little cities of Northern Italy, scaring many towns into lock-down.

 

Varesenews.it, an online newspaper from Varese, Lombardy, contacted our CEO, Cristiana Barbatelli, to ask her about her thoughts on the situation. They contacted our CEO due to her close relation to Varese, as her family is living there now, while she returned to China on the 2^nd  of February.

 

Key points from the interview:

 

Why did you decide to return to Shanghai?

I decided to be there for my colleagues and fight this crisis with them.

 

How was the re-entry?

The situation was very hard and heavy (…) To return to work on the 12^th of February, we had to prove that we had completed the 14 day quarantine.

 

Before that date, what could you do?

The two weeks before that date were very sad. We stayed at home as much as possible (…) I only left the house to buy food. (…) The ‘Salotto con Vista’ group chat I created, with other professionals, kept me alive: we talked, we laughed, we exchanged information and updated eachother.

 

How was Shanghai?

The city was empty. At 18, everything was closed.

 

How did the Chinese react?

A magnificent discipline, seriousness and coherency (…) national unitement.

 

What type of controls were happening?

Temperatures were taken at the entrances of home and work. They took your temperature outside the supermarket and you could not approach the cashier, if you were not wearing a mask.

 

How is it going now?

Since last week, things have become much better, in Shanghai at least. Some restaurants and shops have reopened. We work in the office with masks and our temperature gets taken twice a day.

 

How do you see the future of China after a crisis like this?

Living through SARS, 17 years ago, I have no doubts. China will exceed this crisis and beat the virus, it will take months, but they will do it. And we will do it too.

 

And Italy?

To who asks about the economic impact of this crisis, I respond that (…) we must find a way to have new solutions for work and new business models that work in the future even in these type of conditions.

 

What do you think of the relationship of our countries?

The economy will restart after the epidemic and with this fast push, we will work faster and win over our fears, the hesitations of our clients and our own hesitations.

 

What advice would you give Italy?

Italy (…) should use the same measures implemented by the Chinese population, believe in the results and fight the virus. The discipline of a population and the common motivation will create hope and positivity.

 

“ I am sure that we will do it, and also for us, this hell will finish”

 

Check out the entire interview here:

https://www.varesenews.it/2020/02/litalia-deve-stare-unita-battera-la-crisi/904269/